f *ywL**Jz'<? )<A*&6ir- &**jLj^ 

ANCIENT ACCEPTED 

SCOTTISH RITE 



IN THE 



VALLEY OF SYRACUSE 

COUNTY OF ONONDAGA 
NEW YORK 




BY 



HERBERT W. GREENLAND 



MAY, 1917 



a 



ANCIENT ACCEPTED 
SCOTTISH RITE 



IN THE 



VALLEY OF SYRACUSE 

COUNTY OF ONONDAGA 
NEW YORK 




BY 

HERBERT W. GREENLAND, 32° 



MAY, 1917 






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ILL. GEORGE JUDD GARDNER, 33° 
First Thrice Potent Grand Master, Central City Lodge of Perfection 



Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 

IN THE VALLEY OF SYRACUSE 
COUNTY OF ONONDAGA, NEW YORK 



BY HERBERT W. GREENLAND, 32° 



The towns of Onondaga County were settled between the 
years of 1790 and 1800, largely from the Xew England 
States ; and many of the better class of settlers were mem- 
bers of the Masonic Order. After providing for the necessi- 
ties of life in their new homes, they naturally sought some 
of the comforts incident to the better social conditions they 
had formerly experienced. This was early manifested in the 
organization of churches and Masonic lodges. Of the latter, 
during the first quarter of a century, some 18 were consti- 
tuted and flourished. Having had the benefits of member- 
ship in the symbolic lodges, the brethren sought more light 
as taught in the advanced degrees, and so, between the years 
1807 and 1828. six Chapters of Royal Arch Masons were 
constituted, of which three yet remain. 

When the anti-Masonic storm of 1826-30 swept over the 
State a large number of Masons left the Order, and the 
lodges either surrendered their charters, remained dormant, 
or kept up occasional meetings conducted with great secrecy. 
In 1834 the Grand Lodge records show that not a lodge 
remained in Onondaga County. 

Of particular interest to Scottish Rite Masons were the 
Masonic activities of the brethren of the small hamlet of 
Amber, on Otisco Lake. There Mount Moriah Lodge, Xo. 
245, was constituted in 1815, and Amber Chapter, Xo. 69, 
R. A. M., in 1821. The central figure in that Masonic com- 
munity was Brother Killian H. YanRensselaer, who, in 1822, 
at the age of 21 years, received the degree of Master Mason. 
He was Secretary of the lodge for several years and also 
High Priest of the Chapter. In 1823 he became intimately 
acquainted with Brother James M. Allen of Skaneateles, 



who interested him and his brethren of the Amber Lodo-e 



&' 



and Chapter, in the work of the Scottish Rite, which re- 
sulted in the organization of Yates Lodge of Perfection and 
Yates Council of Princes of Jerusalem, in the village of 
Amber, in which he received the grades in 1824-25. At that 
time all of the villages and settlements in the new county 
were small and dependent upon the agricultural interests 
around them for existence. Brother YanRensselaer received 
the remaining grades of the Rite at the hands of 111. John 
J. J. Gourgas, M. P. Sovereign Grand Commander of the 
Northern Jurisdiction, in the City of Xew York, in 1843. 
was created a S. G. I. G. 33° June 17, 1845, and elected an 
Active Member of the Supreme Council the same day. May 
23, 1862, he was elected M.. P. Sovereign Grand Com- 
mander, which office he continued to fill until the union of 
the two Supreme Councils, May 17, 1867. He died January 
29, 1881, at his home in Ohio. 

After the an-ti- Masonic storm had passed over, the 
promising Masonic center of Amber was laid waste and the 
Scottish Rite bodies, the Royal Arch Chapter and even the 
Masonic lodge, had disappeared. Diligent search during the 
past ten years has failed to discover their records or any 
tangible evidence of their existence other than may be gath- 
ered from outside sources, 

The clouds which for many years obscured the Sun of 
Masonry in this county passed away about the year 1840, 
and with limited numbers, but with renewed zeal, the 
brethren gathered up their working tools and resumed 
Masonic work. The first lodge to be organized after the re- 
vival was Syracuse, Xo. 102, in May, 1844. The high 
character of its members proved that the best people of the 
community recognized the high ideals taught by the Order 
and desired to be identified in the work. After nine years of 
existence, all of which were prosperous, the membership had 
increased so that there appeared a necessity for another 
lodge, and on June 7, 1853, Central City Lodge, No. 305, 
was organized and constituted without the preliminary re- 
quirement of labor under a dispensation, a concession very 
rare if not without a parallel in this State. 

6 



Salina Chapter, Xo. 70, organized February 9, 1821, had 
disappeared with the other Masonic Bodies during the storm, 
but was revived by the Grand Chapter, February 7, 1849, 
under the title of Syracuse Chapter, No. 70, which name was 
again changed February 3, 1864, to Central City Chapter. 

In the early fifties some of the most influential and 
capable men in the county became interested in Masonry, 
joined the lodges and Chapter and attracted to those bodies 
others of like value to the Order. Among them might well 
be mentioned Brother Seymour H. Stone, who was made a 
Master Mason November 14, 1853 ; was Grand High Priest 
of Royal Arch Masons 1867-68 ; received the thirty-third 
degree June 7, 1866. He is yet with us to receive our 
homage for his eminent service to the Craft. Brother Clin- 
ton F. Paige, who was made a Master Mason March 24, 
1853. Pie was Grand Master of the State 1863-64; was 
Grand Secretary General of the Supreme Council 1873-1901, 
the time of his death. Brother Orrin "Welch, 33° , was made 
a Master Mason December 19, 1853 ; was Grand Com- 
mander K. T. of the State 1863-64; Deputy of the Supreme 
Council 1867-77, and at the time of his death, in 1878, was 
an officer of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, of 
the United States. Brother George J. Gardner, 33°, was 
made a Master Mason June 10, 1856. He was the founder 
of the Masonic Veterans' Association of Central New York 
in 1879 and one of the five brethren who organized the Cen- 
tral City Bodies, A. A. S. R., in 1862. Brother Charles W. 
Snow, 33°, was also one of the organizers of the Central 
City Bodies in 1862. He is yet mentally and physically 
active and enjoys the highest esteem of his brethren and 
the community. 

The work of the lodges and the Chapter being apparently 
too limited for the activities of some of the Masonic breth- 
ren, they desired and sought all of the light which could be 
revealed to them. On March 7, 1856, a dispensation, and 
February 6, 1857, a Charter, were received to form Central 
City Encampment of Knights Templar, of which Sir Sey- 
mour H. Stone was the first candidate to receive the Order, 

7 



August 11, 1856. On June 5, I860, Central City Council, 
No. 13, R. & S. M., was chartered, and it is yet one of the 
most prosperous Masonic Bodies in this city. 

Central City Bodies, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 

Although the work required to sustain the four divisions 
of the Masonic Order already organized in this city took 
much time and effort, some of the active members had 
learned that the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite had some- 
thing to reveal to them which was worth the seeking. At 
that time there were three Supreme Councils governing 
three separate bodies of the Scottish Rite in the Northern 
Masonic Jurisdiction, each claiming to be the only legitimate 
one. They were generally known by the names of their re- 
spective Sovereign Grand Commanders, who were elected 
for life and therefore impressed their individuality upon 
their respective Supreme Councils, viz : 

The Raymond Supreme Council for the Northern Juris- 
diction of the U. S. A. 

The Hayes Supreme Council of the United States of 
America, etc. 

The VanRensselaer Supreme Council for the Northern 
Jurisdiction of the U. S. A. 

The first two united April 15, 1863, and on May 17, 1867, 
a union was formed with the third, under the title of "The 
Supreme Council of A. A. S. R. of the Northern Masonic 
Jurisdiction of the United States of America." The fiftieth 
anniversary of this union we are now celebrating. 

By advice of and through the influence of M. W. Finlay 
M. King, Grand Master of Masons in this State, a resident 
of Syracuse and a member of Syracuse Lodge, No. 501, 
Brothers George J. Gardner, Seymour H. Stone, Charles W. 
Snow, Stiles M. Rust and Orrin Welch petitioned 111. 
Charles S. Westcott, Deputy of the Supreme Council, of 
which 111. Edward A. Raymond was the Sovereign Grand 
Commander, that the degrees of the Scottish Rite be con- 
ferred upon them for the purpose of organizing a Lodge of 



Perfection in Syracuse. Complying therewith, a dispensa- 
tion was issued to 111. Nicholas Mickles, 32°, of New York, 
who came to Syracuse and on February 16, 1862, in the 
Syracuse House, which was located where is now the O. C. 
S. B. Building, the above-named brethren assembled and 
received the grades from the fourth to the sixteenth, in- 
clusive, by communication, and were otherwise instructed in 
the work of the Scottish Rite. They immediately petitioned 
for a dispensation to form and open a Lodge of Perfection, 
which was granted March 14. Brother Finlay M. King 
affiliated with the new lodge, and during the year the follow- 
ing new members were added : George H. Root, Simon 
DeGraff, George W. Harwood, Martin V. B. Hart, George 
N. Williams, John F. Sherwood and Hiram Lazier. 

Although the new lodge was composed of representative 
members of the Craft and they were enthusiastic and zealous 
in their efforts to propagate the Rite, they failed to receive 
the encouragement and support of the Supreme Council they 
expected and deserved. Their discontent culminated in an 
informal meeting of the members, held October 24, at 
which time a complaint was formulated and sent to the 111. 
Deputy, Charles S. Westcott, in which it was stated that no 
consideration or attention had been given the young organi- 
zation, so that the members were at a disadvantage. Not 
receiving any satisfaction from this protest, the brethren, 
under date of November 4, 1862, formally surrendered their 
dispensation and renounced all official connection with the 
Sovereign Body. 

At a meeting held November 12, at which Deputy In- 
spector General Clinton F. Paige, 33°, being present, the 
brethren before named took and subscribed the Oath of 
Fealty and Allegiance to the Supreme Council, of which 
111. Edmund B. Hayes was the Sovereign Grand Com- 
mander. They thereupon petitioned for a dispensation to 
form and open a Lodge of Perfection, to be known as "Cen- 
tral City," and naming sundry brethren as the officers there- 
of. The first meeting under the dispensation was held 
November 21, when a dispensation was also granted for a 
Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and one week later, No- 

9 



vember 27 ', dispensations for a Chapter of Rose Croix and a 
Consistory of S. P. R. S. were issued to the brethren who 
had received the grades in New York City, and the Scottish 
Rite Bodies in Syracuse were complete. January 8, 1863, 
111. Orrin Welch was made an Honorary Member of the 
Supreme Council, and May 16, 1867, an Active Member and 
Deputy of the State. November 20, 1867, he issued a sum- 
mons to the Chiefs of each of the Bodies of the Rite in the 
State, to meet in this city December 18, to attend a Council 
of Deliberation, at which time the said Council was or- 
ganized, which has, since then, not only built up the Rite in 
its own jurisdiction, but has also had great influence in the 
affairs of the Supreme Council. Since its organization it 
has twice held its annual meetings in Syracuse, 1898 and 
1907. 

Of the fifty or more brethren who were present at the 
organization of the Council of Deliberation, fifty years ago, 
only one survives, 111. Brother Seymour H. Stone, 33°, of 
our Consistory. He is also either the senior thirty-third in 
the Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdiction, or one of 
the first two or three, having held that honor fifty-one years. 
His long-time comrade and friend, 111. Edward H. Brown, 
also of Central City Consistory, who was also at the organi- 
zation of the Council, was called away two months ago. 

The Scottish Rite Bodies held their meetings in the same 
buildings as Central City Lodge, No. 305. At first in No. 63 
(317) South Salina Street, just south of the present Rosen- 
bloom building. In 1871, with the other Masonic Bodies, 
they removed to Nos. 85-87 (339-341) South Salina Street. 
The Scottish Rite occupied a small room with a stage, 
separate and east of the main lodge room, and was used 
exclusively for the Rite. In 1902, after the building had 
been partially destroyed by fire, the partition was removed 
and the space of the room was utilized for a large stage used 
by all of the Masonic Bodies. January, 1917, it took what 
we hope and believe to be its permanent home in our new 
Syracuse Masonic Temple. 

10 



A large measure of credit for the success of the Central 
City Scottish Rite Bodies in ritualistic, scenic and general 
work the past twenty years, is due to the indefatigable per- 
sonal efforts and executive ability of 111. Howard E. Plaisted, 
33° , who became a member in 1897 and immediately took a 
deep interest in the Rite. His versatile dramatic talent has 
made him indispensable and an inspiration to his associates 
in the exemplification of the grades. 

The Central City Bodies have been signally honored by 
the Supreme Council. The following have been Active 
Members : 111. Orrin Welch, Deputy ; 111. Clinton F. Paige, 
Grand Secretary General ; 111. Abel G. Cook, Marshal of the 
Camp ; 111. Charles E. Ide, Deputy, and 111. Jerome E. 
Cheney. 



Central City Lodge of Perfection 

The first officers of the Central City Lodge of Perfection 
were : George J. Gardner, T. P. G. M. ; Charles W. Snow, 
H. T. D. G. M.; Stiles M. Rust, V. S. G. W. ; Orrin Welch, 
A". J. G. W. ; Seymour H. Stone, G. K. S. & A. ; Simon 
DeGraff, G. Treasurer; George W. Harwood, G. M. of C. ; 
John F. Sherwood, G. C. of G. ; Martin V. B. Hart, G. Tiler. 

Its Masters have been : George J. Gardner, 1862-1865 ; 
Edward H. Brown, 1866-1872; Abel G. Cook, 1872; Ira 
Wood, 1873; Rev. John S. Bacon, 1874; Abel G. Cook, 
1875-1877; Albert Becker, Jr., 1878-1882; Joseph M. Dun- 
can. 1883; Charles E. Ide, 1884-1885; John H. Duncan, 
1886; Plorace C. Bronson, 1887-1888; William Gilbert, 1889- 
1892; Plorace G. Stone, 1893-1895; Edwin C. Hall, 1896- 
1897; Emerson J. Eddy, 1898-1899; Herbert W. Greenland. 
1900-1901; Jay B. Kline, 1902; Reuben C. Hanchet't, 1903; 
John P. Fralick, 1904-1905; Gardner J. Chamberlin, 1906- 
1907; Jerome E. Cheney, 1908-1910; Alonzo W. Worth, 
1911-1912; Henry A. MacGruer, 1913-1914; Frank T. Mil- 
ler, 1915; John Y. Andrews, 1916. 

Membership 825, June 1, 1916. 

11 



Central City Council, Princes of Jerusalem 

The first officers of the Council were : Seymour H. 
Stone, S. P. ; Stiles M. Rust, H. P. ; George W. Harwood, 
S. W. ; George J. Gardner, J. W. ; Simon DeGraff, Treas- 
urer ; Orrin Welch, Secretary; Martin V. B. Hart, Tiler. 
Its Sovereign Princes have been : Seymour H. Stone, 1862- 
1871; Austin C. Wood, 1872-1873; Richard H. Parker, 
1874; George A. Cool, 1875-1880; William Caldwell, 1881; 
George A. Cool, 1882; Albert Becker, Jr., 1883; John H. 
Duncan, 1884-1885; Charles E. Ide, 1886-1888; Amos S. 
Edwards, 1889; Horace C. Bronson, 1890; Amos S. Ed- 
wards, 189M895; George C. Hanford, 1896-1898; Jay B. 
Kline, 1899-1901 ; Theodore M. Barber, 1902-1904; Howard 
E. Plaisted, 1905; William S. Farmer, 1906; George B. 
Dean, 1907 ; Herbert C. Watts, 1908 ; Arthur M. Campbell, 
1909; John P. Listman, 1910; Lester H. Beers, 1911; J. 
Willis Candee, 1912'; Edward F. Haun, 1913; Edwin E. 
Hare, 1914; J. Edward Porter, 1915; S. Earl Ackerman, 
1916. 

Membership 864, June 1, 1916. 

Central City Chapter, Rose Croix 

The first officers of the Chapter were : Orrin Welch, 
M. W. M. ; George W. Harwood, S. W. ; George J. Gard- 
ner, J. W. ; Seymour H. Stone, Orator ; Simon DeGraff, 
Treasurer; Stiles M. Rust, Secretary; Martin V. B. Hart, 
Tiler. Its Most Wise Masters have been : Orrin Welch, 
1862-1865; George J. Gardner, 1866-1871 ; Austin C. Wood, 
1872-1876; Leslie B. Cooke, 1877-1878; Abel G. Cook, 1879- 
1880; Stewart Worden, 1881-1884; Richard IT. Parker, 
1885-1886; Amos S. Edwards, 1887-1888; Charles E. Ide, 
1889-1891; John H. Duncan, 1892; Edwin C. Hall, 1893- 
1895; Horace G. Stone, 1896; George A. Wood, 1897; Rev. 
Jeremiah Zimmerman, 1898-1901; Herbert W. Greenland. 
1902-1903; William H. II. Chamberlin, 1904-1906; Henry 
Schwarz, 1907-1908; George A. Carpenter, 1909-1910; Se- 
bertT. Friedrich, 1911-1912; Merwin W. Lay, 1913; Roy P. 
Chamberlin, 1914-1915; Edward F. Maun, 1916. 

Membership X7(), June 1. 1916. 

12 



Central City Consistory 

The first officers of the Consistory were : Clinton F. 
Paige, Com. -in-Chief ; John L. Lewis, First Lient.-Com. ; 
Orrin Welch, Second Lient.-Com. ; George J. Gardner, 
Orator; Zenas C. Priest, Chancellor; Stiles M. Rust, Treas- 
urer; Seymour H. Stone, Secretary; Charles W. Snow, 
Guard ; Martin V. B. Hart, Tiler. Its Commanders-in-Chief 
have been: Clinton F. Paige, 1862-1865; Orrin Welch, 
1866-1871; Abel G. Cook, 1872-1883; Albert Becker, Jr., 
1884-1886; John H. Duncan, 1887-1892; Charles E. Ide, 
1893-1895; Amos S. Edwards, 1896-1898; Horace G. Stone, 
1899-1901 ; Edwin C. Hall, 1902-1904; Theodore M. Barber, 
1905-1907; Jay B. Kline, 1908-1910; William H. H. Cham- 
berlin, 1911-1913; John P. Listman, 1914-1916. 

Membership 1098, June 1, 1916. 

The Treasurers have been the same for all of the Bodies, 
viz: Simon DeGrarT, 1862-1865; Mead Belden, 1866-1871 ; 
Edward H. Brown, 1872-1876; Hiram W. Plumb, 1877- 
1905; Charles A. Bridgman, 1905-1916. 

The Secretaries have also been the same for all of the 
Bodies after 1865, viz: Robert M. Beecher, 1866-1872; 
Edwin C. Tallcott, 1873-1904; Frank Collins, 1905 ; Howard 
E. Plaisted, 1906-1916. 



13 



Members of Central City Consistory who have received the 
thirty-third degree : 

ACTIVE. 

D'ate of Date of 

Honorary Active Died 

June 5,1862 Clinton F. Paige Oct. 20,1864 Nov. 13,1902 Gr. Sec. Gen. 

Jan. 8, 1863 Orrin Welch May 16, 1867 Mar. 21, 1878 Deputy 

Sept. 19, 1877 Abel G. Cook Sept. 18, 1900 Oct. 18,1911 Mar. of Camp 

Sept. 16, 1890 Charles E. Ide Sept. 17, 1895 Dec. 9,1899 Deputy 

Sept. 19, 1911 Jerome L. Cheney Sept. 23, 1915 



Dec. 


14 


1865 


June 


7 


, 1866 


June 


7 


, 1866 


Feb. 


7 


1872 


Feb. 


7, 


1872 


Sept. 


23 


1884 


Sept. 


15 


1885 


Sept. 


14 


1886 


Sept. 


20 


1887 


Sept. 


18 


1888 


Sept. 


17 


1889 


Sept. 


20 


1892 


Sept. 


20 


1892 


Sept. 


19 


1893 


Sept. 


19 


1893 


Sept. 


18 


1894 


Sept. 


17 


1895 


Sept. 


17 


1895 


Sept. 


15, 


1896 


Sept. 


15, 


1896 


Sept. 


20 


1898 


Sept. 


19 


1899 


Sept. 


18 


1900 


Sept. 


16 


1902 


Sept. 


15 


1903 


Sept. 


19, 


1905 


Sept. 


18, 


1906 


Sept. 


18, 


1906 


Sept. 


18 


1906 


Sept. 


21 


1909 


Sept. 


1') 


]')! 1 


Sept. 


19, 


1916 


Sept. 


19, 


1916 



HONORARY. 

George J. Gardner July 17, 1902 

Rev. Charles H. Piatt Feb. 25, 1869 

Seymour H. Stone 

Fdward H. Brown Mar. 10, 1917 

Meade Belden - June 7, 1876 

Austin C. Wood , Jan. 22, 1910 

Charles P. Clark June 15, 1907 

Albert Becker, Jr. 

Richard H. Parker Jan. 3, 1911 

Hiram W. Plumb 

Byron S. Frisbie Utica June 30,1916 

Edwin C. Tallcott June 21, 1905 

Omar A. Hine Canton 

Elon G. Brown... Utica Oct. 9,1912 

John H. Duncan Batavia 

Dr. Amos S. Edwards 

Edwin C. Hall , Nov. 29, 1916 

Horace G. Stone 

Clarence L. Woodward Apr. 23, 1905 

Charles D. Bingham ... .Watertown 

John T. Newell Brooklyn 

George C. Hanford 

Jay B. Kline 

Theodore M. Barber July 2, 1911 

Willis W. Rice Watertown 

Dr. Henry T. D'ana. . . . Cortland 

Howard E- Plaisted 

Aaron B. Cutting Montclair, N. J. 

George E. Dennison . . . . Utica 

Charles XV. Snow 

Win. II. II. Clianiberlin 

John 1'. I.istman 

George A. Carpenter 



14 



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